Munster and Leinster need key men fit for crunch clashes
Both were also aware their paths may cross again before the season concludes.
While Leinster had more cause to celebrate after Friday’s Magners League win, and look in better shape than their southern counterparts on the eve of two incredibly demanding quarter-finals, Munster will also have learned plenty from a physically bruising encounter that offered a perfect dress rehearsal for the visit of Northampton on Saturday.
Leinster showed great composure in dealing with everything Munster threw at them in the opening half before building on an impressive defensive display to win the contest. They will be mindful, however, of their failings against London Irish in their opening pool game of this season’s Heineken Cup, seven days after annihilating Munster (30-0) at the RDS. Nathan Hines insists they won’t make the same mistake again, admitting that: “Five minutes after the game we were already focusing on Clermont Auvergne.”
Both provinces are aware that from here on in, there will be no second chances. This is cup rugby and nobody negotiates that better than Munster. Leinster have not enjoyed the comfort of a home quarter-final since Declan Kidney was in charge back in 2005 and that ended in a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Leicester at Lansdowne Road. Leinster, however, have travelled a long road since and are now a far more polished nugget.
Since accounting for Munster with ease in Croke Park last May, Leinster have come of age in so many ways and are now a more complete outfit than at any stage of their professional existence. They can mix it up front with the very best in Europe, offer the meanest and best organised defence and still have enough high quality game breakers behind the scrum to create havoc.
The problem is Clermont Auvergne look every bit as assured up front and also have an incredible array of attacking talent. Their defence, however, is not as well structured as the Kurt McQuilken-directed Leinster model and that could be the difference between the sides on Friday night.
First up though, Leinster will have to go toe-to-toe with a Clermont eight who thrive on physical confrontation.
That will start at the scrum where new French loose head sensation Thomas Domingo promises to make life difficult for CJ van der Linde and/or Stan Wright. It is vital that Leinster achieve parity here to enable the outstanding Jamie Heaslip to pick and commit the Clermont back row.
Michael Cheika faces a major decision in the composition of his back row and by selecting Nathan Hines in the No 6 jersey against Munster – because of injuries to Kevin McLaughlin and Sean O’Brien – is considering him for that role on Friday. I have always believed the adage that it is better to be a fast second row rather than a slow back row and that selection represents a gamble. As a result of those injuries this could well be the game where the loss of last season’s talismanic figure Rocky Elsom could be felt for the first time.
Therefore it would offer a timely boost if McLaughlin is passed fit, enabling Hines to revert to lock.
What Leinster do have is a really competitive lineout and will also be encouraged by the fact that Stade Francais made massive inroads against Clermont in their win last Saturday in the Stade de France through a well-organised lineout maul. I am sure the watching Leinster forwards coach Jonno Gibbs will have taken note.
The other chink of light to emerge from that game is that if Clermont coach Vern Cotter continues to play French winger Aurelien Rougerie at outside centre, then Leinster are well positioned to exploit his defensive inexperience.
He looked vulnerable at times against Stade and if there is any hint of defensive uncertainty in his game, then who better to exploit it than Brian O’Driscoll?
That is why Cheika will be praying his midfield genius is passed fit today.
The key for Leinster in this tie is to ensure that they don’t allow the visitors the time and space to develop the free-flowing, off-loading style that makes Clermont one of the most potent attacking forces in European rugby. Leinster’s defensive organisation is tailor-made to frustrate them from that point of view.
Leinster have to defend their title the hard way and face a mammoth task in negating the combined strengths of this Clermont side.
The one thing that we have come to respect of this current Leinster outfit is their resilience and never-say-die attitude. They will need all of those battling qualities to edge this one and on the assumption that all their big guns are sufficiently recovered from injury, should just about have enough to get over the line.
Apart from the venue, all the advantages are with Northampton going into their quarter-final against Munster.
They had continuity right throughout the Six Nations with only Euan Murray and Dylan Hartley regular absentees. They also had the boost of silverware beating Gloucester in the LV= Anglo Welsh Cup and have lost just once – away to Harlequins in the Guinness Premiership – in their 10 outings since the visit to Thomond Park.
The one source of comfort for Munster, however, is the significance of the venue.
The Munster crowd appreciate better than most when this team have their backs to the wall and generally respond in kind.
Munster have won all five of their previous home quarter-finals – including one in Lansdowne Road – and while Northampton will be encouraged by their efforts there in January, the intensity will be even greater this time around.
On the last occasion they played a limited game in the knowledge that a losing bonus point would be sufficient to qualify. I was interested in the comment of their flanker, Phil Dowson during the week, when he said “we cannot be afraid to play”. That is exactly what happened on their last visit. On Saturday Munster must make sure that they are not allowed to play.
Munster will certainly have to be smarter than they were against Leinster and sort out their discipline. They will also have to play more territory and force the Saints into errors. Given the strength of the Northampton pack, Munster will be happy to break even up front and pressurise the most vulnerable-looking sector the Saints make up – their midfield. Shane Geraghty, James Downey and Jon Clarke are not in the same class of Ronan O’Gara, Jean de Villiers and Keith Earls. The challenge is to get sufficient quality ball to exploit that advantage. Like Leinster, much will come down to the ability of medics to make sure Earls and the inspirational Paul O’Connell are fit to start.
Without these two, Munster will struggle.
